Flashlight, fuse, and circuit tester



April 24, 1951 J. A.L DUNCAN 2,550,233

FLASHLIGHT, FUSE, AND CIRCUIT TESTER Filed Dec; 11, 1947 [N VENT( JR,

James J. Dunccm ATTE! R N EYE Patented Apr. 24, 14951 TENT OFFICEFLASHLIGHT, FUSE, AND CIRCUIT TESTER James J. Duncan, Flint, Mich.

.Application December 11, 1947, Serial No. 799,942

This invention relates to a combined electric ashlight and fuse orcircuit tester.

It is an object of the present invention to provide in a flashlight anassemblage of parts so arranged that an electric current established bythe batteries within the ashlight maybe delivered through a fuse orcircuit to be tested upon the operation of one switch of the flashlightto cause the lamp to be placed in the circuit with the batteries so thata signal will be given after a circuit is completed through the fuse orcircuit being tested.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a combinedflashlight or fuse orr circuitl tester, which is of simple construction,inexpensive to manufacture and efcient in operation.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to thefollowing detailed description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevational View of the testingflashlight which is of the shape of a slender. pencil type flashlightadapted for insertion in a coat pocket, portions of the device beingbroken away and shown in section,

Fig. 2 is a side elevational View of the combined flashlight and testerbeing applied to a lamp socket cord for the purpose of testing thecircuit through the lamp socket, the cord plug terminals contacting witha ring and clip part of the device,

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the combined nashlight and tester,

Fig. l is an enlarged sectional View, taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken generally on line 6--6 ofFig. 3.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denotecorresponding parts wherein there is shown my pocket type iiashlight andtester. This tester and flashlight comprises a casing 5| of insulatingmaterial adapted to contain batteries 52 and 53. Over the rear of thecasing 5| is a metal sleeve 54 to which is threaded a cap 55. A contactspring 56 extends between the cap and battery 53. Aboutthe front of thecasing is a long metallic sleeve 51 to which is threaded a Ynozzle lightretainer 58 having a hole 59 through which light rays are extended. Thesleeve 51 supports an insulating member 6| which in turn supports a lampbulb 62. This lamp bulb engages at its center with a terminait-3 ofbattery 52. A metallic terminal strip "6,4ufcontacts the bulb 62 and issecured to the insulating 1 claim. (C1. 175-183) 2 casing 5| throughrivets 65 having Contact portions 66 and 61, Figure 6, on which slidablepush button 66 may be imposed. The push button 6B upon being broughtforward will automatically engage with the contact terminal 61 withouthaving to depress the same. This action will cause the light to beturned on and remain so until the push button is withdrawn. Fixed to themetal sleeve 54 is a pocket clip 69 having contact with a ring 1| on thecasing which is connected with the metal sleeve 51 through a conductorbar 12.

When the push button contact 68 is in engagement with the contact 61current will flow through battery 52, lamp bulb 62, metal strip 64,Contact 61, push button 68, metal sleeve 51, bar 12, ring 1|, clip 69,metal sleeve 54, cap 55, spring 56, battery 53 and the battery 52.

When the device is used for testing, the push button 58 is movedrearwardly to a location over contact 66. When the push button isdepressed engagement is made with the contact 66, Figure 6, and currentwill flow through the same circuit. The clip 69 is slidable on thesleeve 54 and can be withdrawn to the position shown in Figure 2 out ofengagement with the ring 1i and an element to be tested is disposed incircuit relationship between the clip 59 and the ring 1| in the mannershown in Figure 2. This element being tested is in the form of a lampsocket as indicated at 13. The push button 68 is depressed against theaction of its spring 14 when the test is to be performed.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shallbe understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope ofthe present invention as defined by the appended claim.

I claim:

In a testing flashlight, the combination which comprises a tubularcasing of insulating material, a light bulb socket mounted in one end ofthe casing, batteries positioned in the casing with a center terminal ofone of the batteries positioned for engagement with the terminal of alight bulb in the said socket, a metal sleeve slidably mounted on theend of the casing opposite to that in which the light bulb socket ispositioned, a spring providing connecting means' between the metalsleeve and end of a battery, a clip carried by the metal sleeve andextended beyond the endV thereof to a point intermediate of the lengthof the casing, a metal band positioned on the casing spaced from the endof the metal sleeve andv positioned to be engaged by the extended end ofthe said clip, an inner bar con- 3 nected to the band by a rivetextended through the casing, a frame having an elongated slot thereinpositioned on the outer surface of the casing and with the intermediatepart thereof spaced from the casing, a rivet connecting the frame to thesaid inner bar, a pair of terminals mounted in spaced relation in thecasing and positioned under the slot of the frame, an inner barconnectedto said pair of terminals through the casing and extended tothe light bulb socket, and a button slidably mounted in the slot of theframe and positioned to engage one terminal of the said pair ofterminals to complete a circuit through the light bulb and positioned inspaced relation to the other terminal of the said pair of terminals whenmoved to the opposite end of the slot, said button'mounted to bedepressed to engage the said other terminal to test a circuit, oneterminal of which is in engagement with the band on the casing and theother with the clip of the slidably mounted metal sleeve with the saidmetal sleeve actuated to a position in which the end of the clip isspaced from the band.

JAMES J. DUNCAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record' in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,637,472 Coote Aug. 2, 19271,845,764 Y Pryor Feb. 16, 1932 2,001,382 Faltico May 14, 1935 2,128,810Fortine Aug. 30, 1938 2,156,319 Steele May 2, 1939 2,275,696 Stamps Mar.10, 1942 2,324,661 Woodington July 20, 1942 2,401,366 Muldoon June 4,1946

